Len Bias: Lost Potential of NBA's Future

0:00On March 28, Len Bias was one of the most hyped college basketball prospects ever, selected second overall by the Boston Celtics in 1986. Just two days after the draft, the 6-foot 8-forward from Maryland tragically died from a cocaine overdose, robbing the NBA of a potential, superstar. Bias steadily built his game over four years at Maryland. His scoring jumped from 7.2 points per game as a freshman to a dominant 23.3 as a senior, where he led the Atlantic. Coast conference in scoring. Several NBA greats couldn't hide their excitement about him. Larry Bird, the three-time MVP, said he hadn't been this pump since teammate Cedric Maxwell. Meanwhile, Horace Grant, who faced bias in college while at Clemson, called him flawless with no weaknesses, was set by as a part with his rare mix of size, speed, and skill. He could guard multiple spots, explode to the rim, and score in tight spaces, keeping defenders guessing.

1:00Even Clemson's football players skipped grants games to watch Bias instead. That lost potential still haunts basketball fans today, a stark reminder of how one night changed the league's future forever.